Multiple valve distributor head

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to fire extinguishing systems and specifically pertains to a multiple valve distributor head for pressure actuated cartridges containing a fire extinguishing agent which protect a plurality of fire hazard areas through fixed pipe systems attached to the valves of the distributor head. The multiple valve distributor head permits the selective discharge of the entire contents of the cartridge through one valve into the fixed pipe fire system protecting one hazard area upon detection of a fire in that area, without unseating or opening valves leading to the fixed pipe systems of unaffected hazard areas. The multiple valve distributor head comprises a fitting for pressurized cartridges of fire extinguishing agent formed with a plurality of opposed laterally-extending bosses having openings communicating with an interior distribution cam chamber and counterboard and internally threaded at their outer ends to receive independently actuated valves which in turn are connected to fixed pipe fire systems through which the fire extinguishing agent is discharged.

Weise MULTIPLE VALVE DISTRIBUTOR HEAD [76] Inventor: George Weise, 1462 Alps Rd.,

Wayne, NJ. 07470 [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 [21] Appl.No.:338,835

[52] U.S. Cl. 169/9, 169/26 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James J. Cannon, Jr.; James J. Cannon [451 May 7, 1974 ABSTRACT This invention relates to fire extinguishing systems and specifically pertains to a multiple valve distributor head for pressure actuated cartridges containing a fire extinguishing agent which protect a plurality of fire hazard areas through fixed pipe systems attached to thevalves of the distributor head. The multiple valve distributor head permits the selective discharge of the entire contents of the cartridge through one valve into the fixed pipe fire system protecting one hazard area upon detection of a tire inthat area, without unseating or opening valves leading to the fixed pipe systems of unaffected hazard areas. The multiple valve distributor head-comprises a fitting for pressurized cartridges of fire extinguishing agent formed! with a plurality of opposed laterally-extending bosses having openings communicating. with an interior." distribution cam chamber and counterboard and internally threaded at their outer ends to receive independently actuated valves which in turn areconnected t0 fixed pipe fire systems through which the fire extinguishing agent is discharged.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing [Figure 1 MULTIPLE VALVE DISTRIBUTOR HEAD BACKGROUND OF THIEIINVENTIONY 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to fire extinguishers and is directed particularly to improvements in self-contained pressure actuated fire extinguishers of the type designed to protect a plurality of small areas where there may be danger of local fires such as record vaults-paint In particular, this invention is an improvement over the multiple port distributor head used in the Thermally Actuated Fire Extinguisher-disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 3,392,787 issued July 16, 1 968. I 2. Description of the Prior Art l I My US. Pat. No. 3,392,787 disclosed a. thermally activated fire extinguisher which included armultipleportdistributor head having a mixingand/or distribution chamber to allow the distribution of the fire extinguishing medium to selected areas through fixed pipesutilizing four or morepipeattaching ports. In effect,

this fire extinguisher has a. multiple port distribution head which, upon activation, would; distribute the fire extinguishing agent through. all ports simultaneously and through a fixed pipe system to each area protected by the system.

Mostfire extinguishingsystems today used toprotect' more thanone fire hazardlarea operate by splitting the supply. of fire extinguishing agent in approximately equal parts for each hazard area through the useofi'an: in-linepipe tee or other supply splitting dev icewhichis part'of the single fixed pipefire extinguishersystem.

Such a system, however, simply; divides thesupply of 1' fire extinguishing medium from azsingle cartridge,tanlc or, supply source into smaller quantities, each ofiwhich must be sufficient to protect the greatestsingle;hazard" to which these smaller supplies are diverted. Therefore,

individual hazards protected by a present multiple "or. splitprotection system, must be smaller than anysingle hazard which could be protected bya system designed to use the entire supplyoffire extinguishing agentcontained in the supply tank. by the sameinyerse-proportion as the number of times the tank issplit'or divided.

Thus if a cartridge or tank contained 800 poundsof fire extinguishing agent and the fixed pipesystem fully protected four areas, each area could knot require or receive more than 200 pounds. Such systems resultin a veryexpensive cost for minimal protection.

Afurther disadvantage of the present multiplehazard systems is the fact that allhazards protected: byethesystem will receive some fire.extinguishing.agent'evenif the system isactivated by afire inonly oneofthe hazard areas. This results in an inefficient utilization of expensivefire extinguishingagents and causes most of the fire extinguishing agent to bevdischarged in non affected hazard areas. One suchsystem whichis commercially available utilizes a. selector, valve manifold which is connected to a single stationary fire extinguisher or source offire extinguishingagent. A number of fixed pipe and nozzle systems rnay be connected to I such a selector valve manifold. A release mechanism,

activated by a fire detection means within a hazard area causes only thevalve for the pipingsystem serving that particular affected area to open and hence distributes may contain two or more valves eachof which is connected to a portopening and each of which when activated will allow the selective discharge of the fire extinguishing agent froma cartridge tanlcor supply source toa particular fixed pipe system serving a single fire hazard area without opening theother valves of the multiple valve distributor head.

Hence, the principle object of this invention is to provide a multiple valvedistributionhead .for fire extinguishing systems which will-selectively exhaustthe fire extinguishing medium in a tank through'one valve of said head into the fixed pipe fire extinguishing system connected to that valve. 1

Another object of this inventionis to: provide a means foropenin'g each valve in the multiple valve distributionhead selectively througha fire detection or sensing device of the fixed pipe fire extinguishing system connected to said valve. I l x A further object of this invention is to provide a convenient, economical means for utilizationof a single source ofsupply of fire extinguishing'agent for protectionofa pluralityof fire hazard areas, any one of which wouldfully exhaust said sourceofi supply.

, Other objects, features and advantages of my inven' tion will-be apparent from the following description when readwith reference to the accompanyingdrawiing. l

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This inventionpertains to amultiple valvedisti'ibutbr head for acar'trid'geortank of fire extinguishingagent which provides a meansfor deliveringithe full supplyof said tank to one of a number ofdifferent fixed pipe fire protection systems, each or whichprotectsone of' a number of different fire hazard areas. The system includes a multiple portdistributor headfor a cartridge or tank of fire extinguishingagent having afrnixing or distribution chamber. This multiple" port head is attached to a pressureized cartridgeor tanlrof fire extinguishingagent. A valve isconnected to eachport of the multiple port distributor headfsuch. thatthe valve can be selected or openedbya firedetection means serving. a fixed-'pipe fire extinguishing systeni ina fire hazard area. Called a multiplevalve distributor head, this'invention permitsone SOUI'CCQf supply ornre extinguish ingagent to serve a number offi're extinguishing systems, each of which can callup'on' the 1 full contents .of

a-tank of fireextinguishing wagent through" activation of the one valve to whichit' isconneetedwhileatthe same time the other valves would remain closed? thus preventingthe discharge of tire extinguishing. agent into areas where his not needed: Thus thefireextinguishing agent isonly used by the fire protectionsystem which needs it, while the other systems remain dormant.

The specific means utilized for opening a valve in the multiple valve distributor head may be any of a number of conventional means. The activation means, whether it be pneumatic, wire spring or electrical, would always include a manual release mechanism which could be activated near the valve itself or from within a remote protected fire hazard area. In any event the means for opening the valve would have to be compatible with the fire detection means in the protected hazard area.

All fire hazards to be protected with one single source of supply of fire extinguishing agent would have to be ones which can be protected with the same fire extinguishing agent. Whatever agent is in the tank will be delivered to a fire hazard area when the valve is opened.

The valve used could be a ball valve which is simply attached to themultiple port distributor head. The ball valve lends itself to a variety of actuating means. The ball valve is controlled by a lever such that the ball is in either the open or the closed position. A frangible disk is also a possible substitute for the ball valve.

The multiple valve distributor head of the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive means for protecting a number of hazard areas with a single tank of fire extinguishing agent. It is particularly useful and economical in the protection of multiple hazards which are physically separate from one another and where there is no danger of fire spreading from one to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the multiple valve distributor head of this invention attached to a container of fire extinguishing agent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention comprising generally a multiple port distributor head essentially similar in design and construction to that described in my US. Pat. No. 3,392,787, removably attached to a pressurized container 12 of fire extinguishing agent. Distributor head 10 has a plurality of ports 14, which are opposed laterally extending bosses having openings communicating with the interior chamber of distributor head 10 at their inner ends and are counterbored and internally-threaded at their outer ends to receive valves 16 or fittings to which either valves 16 or caps 18 are attached. The fire extinguishing medium is discharged through an open valve 36, as is herein below more fully described.

A multiple valve distributor head 10 will in the usual applications have from two to eight ports 14, not all of which will be utilized in any one installation. Unutilized ports, such as those designated by the reference numerals 20 and 22, are closed by a nut 24, externally threaded, removably received in an unutilized port 20 and held in closed position by a washer 26.

A utilized port such as port 28 removably receives a small pipe 30 externally threaded at both ends as indicated at 32 and 34. A standard valve 36 having internally threaded fittings is removably attached to the outward extending end of pipe 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, valve 36 is a ball valve, but other types of valves may be utilized for this purpose. The outwardly extending 'nozzles or pipes to which nozzles are attached through which the tire extinguishing agent is discharged,-as is herein below more fully described. Valve 36 has a hank,

dle 38 and a wire rope 46 attached to open valve 36 mechanically by means of a spring or other forcable means incorporated within the actuating device or devises of the individual system. Valve 36 may be activated by any one of several means with the aid of a derby release, such as a rate of rise sensor, a smoke detector or electronic heat sensing device, a spring and fusible link or by remote hand pull. Valve 36 and its associated fittings are enclosed in a cylindrical housing 40 defining an open chamber 42 in which valve 36 and its associated fittings are received, and attached to multiple port distributor head 10 on one side. Distributor head 10 has a pressure gauge '44 conveniently located to monitor the pressure within its distribution chamber. It also has a schraeder valve stem 45 to pressurize the cylinder or tank 12.

In operation, a fire protection system, such as that for which multiple valve distributor head 10 is designed, would be designed to protect a plurality of fire hazard areas. For purposes of illustration, let us assume that six record vaults of approximately equal size are to be protected and that to extinguish a fire in any one of the six vaults would require no more than 100 pounds of a dry chemical or other agent to be completely extinguished. Let us further assume that these record vaults are not in close proximity to one another or are segregated by cement walls such that fire could not spread from one to the-other. The fire protection system within each vault would employ a seperate detection system, which could be any of several types such as a rate of rise sensor, a fusible link or an electronic heat sensing device; a fixed pipe distribution system with nozzles for distributing a fire extinguishing agent throughout the vault when a fire is detected by the sensor; and a, supply of fire extinguishing agent under pressure, connected to both the sensor and the fixed pipe system..The multiple valve distributor head permits each of the fixed pipe distribution systems to be connected to the same source of supply which, since the probability of a fire occurring at the same time in two different vaults is minimal, need only contain 100 lbs. of fire extinguishing agent. In this example each of the six fixed pipe systems would be connected to one of the ports 14 of multiple port distributor head by means of a valve 36. The sensor for each area would be linked by a wire rope 46 to the means 38 for opening the valve 36 to which the fixed pipe system for that area is connected. Multiple port distributor head is attached to a single tank 12 containing enough fire extinguishing agent to extinguish completely a fire in any one of the six vaults. Unused ports 20, 22 on multiple port distributor head 10 would be capped by a washer 26 and nut 24. When a sensor in a protected vault detects a fire, it causes a The multiple valve distributor head of the present invention results in a substantial savings in costs of fire extinguishing agent. By utilizing a single source of supply such as a tank of dry chemicals or other agents to protect a plurality of fire hazard areas the tank need only contain the amount of tire extinguishing agent required for full protection of the largest hazard. In practice from two to eight hazard areas would be connected to one source of supply. The maximum savings would be achieved if eight hazard areas, each of which requires the same amount or less of fire extinguishing agent, were connected to one tank through the multiple fire extinguishing agent required for protecting the eight areas would be one-eighth of that required to protect the same areas individually.

In addition the multiple valve distributor head represents a distinct savings over a simpler multiple port distributor head because the individually controlled valves prevent the discharge of fire extinguishing agent into a hazard area in which there-is no fire. Also the same economy in utilization of a singlesource of supply is achieved since the earlier multiple port distributor .head provided no means for closing ports to unaffected hazard areas.

Furthermore, a fire protection system utilizing the multiple valve distributor head is simpler and less expensive in construction than one utilizing a selector valve manifold and the associated piping. The multiple valve distributor head also occupies less space than a selector valve manifold system, making its installation more convenient in many locations.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is presented by .way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, includes all the embodiments coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An improved multiple distributor head for a fire extinguishing system of the type having a cartridge con taining a fire extinguishing agent under pressure, a multiple port distributor head having an interior mixing chamber removably fitted to said cartridge and in com valve distributor head. In this situation the quantity of municationtherewith, conduit means in said multiple port distributor head and in communication therewith, a

conduit means in said. multiple port distributor head and in communication with the interior mixing chamber thereof for discharging the fire extinguishing agent through exterior pipes in communication with said multiple port distributor head, wherein the improvement comprises:

a plurality of valves, each' of which is removably connected to and incommunication with a port of said multiple port distributor head; each of said valves connected to and in communication with a system of pipes for the distribution of said fire extinguishing agent to a specific hazard area;

a housing for each of said valves and its fittings attached on one end to said multiple port distributor head;

means located in each of said hazard areas to detect a fire and upon'detection thereof in a specific hazard area to actuate remotely and. selectively that valve connected to the pipes serving to distribute a fire extinguishing agent in said hazard area;

means to effect the discharge of the contents of said cartridge of fire extinguishing agent through said multiple port distributor head and said selectively opened valve, said means being actuated when at least one of said valves is opened.

, 2. The improved multiple valve distributor head as defined in claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises:

manually controlled means for opening each of said valves selectively, and including means to effect the discharge of the contents of said cartridge when at least one of said valves is opened.

3. The improved multiple valve distributor head as defined in claim 2 wherein the improvement further comprises:

removable means for closing unutilized ports of said multiple valve distributor head. 

1. An improved multiple distributor head for a fire extinguishing system of the type having a cartridge containing a fire extinguishing agent under pressure, a multiple port distributor head having an interior mixing chamber removably fitted to said cartridge and in communication therewith, conduit means in said multiple port distributor head and in communication therewith, conduit means in said multiple port distributor head and in communication with the interior mixing chamber thereof for discharging the fire extinguishing agent through exterior pipes in communication with said multiple port distributor head, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of valves, each of which is removably connected to and in communication with a port of said multiple port distributor head; each of said valves connected to and in communication with a system of pipes for the distribution of said fire extinguishing agent to a specific hazard area; a housing for each of said valves and its fittings attached on one end to said multiple port distributor head; means located in each of said hazard areas to detect a fire and upon detection thereof in a specific hazard area to actuate remotely and selectively that valve connected to the pipes serving to distribute a fire extinguishing agent in said hazard area; means to effect the discharge of the contents of said cartridge of fire extinguishing agent through said multiple port distributor head and said selectively opened valve, said means being actuated when at least one of said valves is opened.
 2. The improved multiple valve distributor head as defined in claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises: manually controlled means for opening each of said valves selectively, and including means to effect the discharge of the contents of said cartridge when at least one of said valves is opened.
 3. The improved multiple valve distributor head as defined in claim 2 wherein the improvement further comprises: removable means for closing unutilized ports of said multiple valve distributor head. 